North Wollongong Beach is patrolled year-round, but the flags will go up on all other beaches from this Saturday. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
One week before flags go up on NSW beaches, three people have drowned and a swimmer at East Corrimal was dragged from the water in a serious condition.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce described the past weekend as horrific.
“These incidents are another reminder of how important it is to check Beachsafe to find your nearest patrolled location when you visit the coastline,” he said.
“Even when our volunteers are not on duty, there are many locations where Australian Lifeguard Service lifeguards or council lifeguards will be able to look out for you.”
Flags go up across the state this Saturday (26 September), with more than 21,000 volunteer lifesavers as well as lifeguards patrolling beaches for the next seven months.
At Saltwater Beach, north of Forster on the Lower North Coast, SLSNSW State Operations Centre received reports at about 2 pm on Sunday that two people were in distress in the water.
One male was declared deceased at the scene and a second was taken to hospital.
Two hours later, at Newcastle’s Stockton Beach, three people were rescued, with emergency services conducting CPR on one male before declaring him deceased.
On Saturday, a Surf Life Saving NSW drone operator, flying on behalf of the NSW Government’s Shark Management Program, alerted rescuers to an incident at Cabarita Beach in the north of the state.
Bystanders, including a member of Cabarita Beach surf club and the drone pilot who sighted the incident, attempted to resuscitate the man. He was taken to hospital but was later declared deceased.
Meanwhile, a man was taken to hospital after he was pulled from the water at East Corrimal on Sunday, where off-duty Surf Life Saving personnel and other emergency services provided resuscitation.
As well, Surf Life Saving Illawarra said there were 13 rescues reported by off duty lifesavers and members of the public, at Stanwell Park Beach, Austinmer, Thirroul and MM Beach.
A Surf Life Saving Rescue Service operator on a jet ski rescued three females struggling 100 m from shore at MM Beach Port Kembla on Sunday, returning all three safely to shore. On Saturday at Stanwell Park Beach, a drone operator rescued a child struggling in a rip current.
“Any time you visit the coastline, but particularly outside of the volunteer patrol season, if you intend to swim at an unpatrolled location, there are some things you can do to look out for your own safety,” Mr Pearce said.
“It’s imperative that you do so with at least one other person with you, there is good phone connectivity at the location, and you have a floatation device with you.
“These are all considerations that will help in the event the worst were to happen.”
In the Illawarra, lifeguards and lifesavers will monitor Wollongong’s 17 beaches from the start of the season on Saturday, as well as at Shellharbour North Beach, Shellharbour South Beach and Warilla Central Beach, Kiama’s Surf Beach and on weekends at Werri Beach.
Currently North Wollongong Beach is the only year-round patrolled service.
The Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report recorded 109 drowning deaths in NSW last financial year, with a quarter of those occurring at beaches.
Beach safety tips:
- Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags
- Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
- Swim with someone else so you can look out for each other and always supervise children around the water
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
- In an emergency, dial triple zero (000) – police.
For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or download the app.
